A cameraman has been dubbed ‘more impressive’ than the athletes he is filming.
We all know the cameraman doesn’t die, don’t we? If you’re ever in danger, whip out your phone and start recording – you can survive avalanches, giant waves in the sea and even volcanic eruptions.
Ice ran through the cameraman’s veins as the reigning Olympic gold medallist at the time Thomas Röhler launched a javelin over the 90-meter mark. (YouTube/Wanda Diamond League)
Well, it’s a dangerous world when the person behind the camera knows that too – imagine all kinds of tomfoolery they could get up to… or out of.
One cameraman knows exactly that, and has balls of steel.
Stood at the head of the field recording a javelin throw event, a man films German track and field athlete Thomas Röhler taking part in the Wanda Diamond League.
Well, the footage was taken back in May 2017 when Röhler was competing head-to-head for the win against fellow German compatriot, Johannes Vetter, in Doha, Qatar.
Vetter landed a score of 89m and looked to be clear of any competition – with throws exceeded 90m extremely rare.
But Röhler, the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic gold medallist in the javelin throw event, launched the spear so far that he landed a monster score of 93.90m.
What is even more incredible is that the cameraman he almost nearly speared is believed to have took it upon himself before the competition to move back a few feet for safety.
The video has since gone viral, especially after it was uploaded to Twitter where the cameraman’s fans went wild.
One user commented: “It’s incredible how he just stood there doing his job as if nothing was at stake.”
While another joked: “No wonder it said “cameramen never die in wars”. They are heroes.”
But it didn’t stop there, someone said: “Cameramen are the unsung heroes of the entertainment industry!”
Thomas Röhler launched the javelin 93.90 meters back in 2017. (YouTube/Wanda Diamond League)
It kept coming, another person joked: “I think he was aiming for that cameraman. Had a beef with him.
“You didn’t shoot my throw yesterday. Go away. Take that. Missed.”
Meanwhile one user was also impressed with the camera operator whose footage was being used to almost capture their counterpart’s near-death experience.
They said: “Which one?? The one who stood there as if a straight up spear wasn’t coming straight at them or the one who caught it’s descent perfectly.”
Speaking later in an interview, Röhler explained that all camera operators are currently safe over the 100-meter mark, adding it would be better if they did shoot a few meters back.
However, the 100 meter was broken back in 1984 but since then, the javelin has been altered.
